CAC cards
DOD Expands Pilot Program to Renew USID Cards Online
As part of an expansion of a Defense Department pilot program that kicked off in February 2023, most Uniformed Services Identification, or USID, card holders can now renew their cards online and receive them in the mail, instead of having to schedule an appointment at an ID card office.
Before this expansion, only sponsors with a common access card could request online renewals, but now most retirees and non-CAC holders are eligible.
The ongoing pilot program allows family members, retirees and others to avoid making appointments at a pass and ID card office. Instead, they can renew USID cards online via the ID Card Office online, or IDCO, website. It’s important to note that the pilot program is for renewal of the USID card only — not for the initial issue. Also, the pilot is limited to cardholders within the United States, though expansion to non-US addresses is in the works.
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Mike Zarlenga, with the Defense Manpower Data Center, said that DOD currently issues about 4.5 million ID cards each year. About 2.5 million of those are USID cards, and of those, roughly one million are renewals eligible for online renewal. The pilot program, Zarlenga said, is meant to make life easier for family members and retirees.
“We think modern capabilities like renewing a driver’s license online make it easier for people to get what they need when they need it without burdening them with having to take a trip somewhere,” Zarlenga said. ”We’re excited about this, and it sounds like people see online renewal as making their lives easier, based on the feedback we’re getting.”
The pilot program also enhances the DOD mission by freeing up appointment slots at pass and ID offices for active duty military personnel and civilian government employees who need to apply for or renew a CAC.
“We want to enable the ID card sites today to better service the CAC holders who are our mission enablers,” Zarlenga said. “We want to make sure that people visiting that office can get an appointment when they need one, and they can get their CAC and resume their mission or duties with minimal impact to them or to the department.”
More information about the online USID card renewal pilot program, including restrictions and requirements, is available on the cac.mil website.
Navy Updates ID Card Guidance
MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) — After announcing temporary changes to ID Card office procedures, the Navy has issued additional guidance April 20.
NAVADMIN 114/20 provides an update for Navy personnel who require Common Access Cards (CAC) and Uniformed Services Identification (USID) card services during the COVID-19 pandemic. These additional measures provide greater flexibility for ensuring installation and facility physical access and means to remotely update information technology certifications, all to maintain continuity of operations while minimizing non-essential visits to ID card facilities.
Service personnel and family members who possess expired ID cards and who are still eligible for benefits due to sufficient service affiliation can continue to use their expired cards until Sept. 30, 2020. While all will still be screened at base entry control points, electronic ID card scanners will be used to verify eligibility and if valid, base access will be granted.
CAC cards with an expiration date of April 16, 2020 (or later) may continue to be used through Sept. 30, 2020 after cardholders renew their credentials online. Access to the ID Card Office Online is available at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/self_service. Step-by-step instructions are available at https://www.cac.mil/coronavirus.
The following additional temporary policy changes announced in the message are effective until Sept. 30, 2020:
- The minimum age to get a USID card has been raised to 14 years old.
- As long as a cardholder’s affiliation with their service has not changed, USID cards that expired on or after Jan. 1, 2020 can continue to be used (base access, commissary, exchange, etc.).
- Service members can remotely enroll newly acquired dependents (spouse, child, stepchild, adopted child, etc.) for healthcare coverage. Contact MyNavy Career Center (MNCC) Contact Center at (833) 330-6622 or via email at askmncc@navy.mil for specific guidance.
- USID cards can be reissued via the postal service for those unable to get an appointment at a RAPIDS site. Service members who want to use this option must first contact their nearest ID card office and can find this information at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil.
All Navy Real-Time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS) sites will continue to issue and re-issue CACs that expire within 30 days by appointment only. However, CACs will not be reissued for routine information changes (promotion, name change, etc). DOD civilian employees will keep their CAC when transitioning to a new service. CAC PIN resets will continue to be provided on a walk-in basis.
To check the status of a RAPIDS site or to schedule an appointment go to the RAPIDS Appointment Scheduler at https://rapids-appointments.dmdc.osd.mil. More information can be found at www.cac.mil/coronavirus.
Navy Initiates Temporary Changes for ID Card Offices
MILLINGTON, Tennessee (NNS) — If you lose your Common Access Card or it’s set to expire during the next two months, you’ll have to make an appointment to get a new one; no walk-ins will be allowed.
It’s another shift of Navy policy, designed to protect Sailors, families, civilian employees, contractors, and retirees during the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic.
NAVADMIN 097/20 directs all Navy Real-time Automated Personnel Identification System offices, known as RAPIDS sites, to only issue or reissue Common Access Cards to those with scheduled appointments. While the policy is in place, no walk-in customers will be allowed for any card issue.
Each Navy RAPIDS site will screen arriving customers by asking basic health screening questions prior to entry. Also, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention safe-distance guidelines will be maintained for the safety and health of staff and customers.
Appointments are made through the online RAPIDS appointment scheduler at https://rapids-appointments.dmdc.osd.mil. To locate your nearest RAPIDS center, visit www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl.
Priority for appointments will be given those with time sensitive situations, the message said. This includes active duty members whose CAC has been lost, stolen or is expiring within the next 60 days as well as newly retired members and dependents with cards expiring within the next 30 days.
For those unable to schedule an appointment online for CAC PIN resets, a controlled walk-in process for will be available for this service only.
For more information read NAVADMIN 097/20 at http://www.npc.navy.mil
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